Shloka 23
सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge
रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरःपद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः ।सर्वपुष्पमयींदिव्यांशिरसाधारयन् स्रजम् ।।6.22.19।।जातरूपमयैश्चैवतपनीयविभूषितैः ।आत्मजानांचरत्नानांभूषितोभूषणोत्तमैः ।।6.22.20।।धातुभिर्मण्डितश्शैलोविविधैर्हिमवानिव ।एकावलीमध्यगतंतरलंपाटलप्रभम् ।।6.22.21।।विपुलेनोरसा बिभ्रत्कौस्तुभस्य सहोदरम् ।अघूर्णिततरङ्गौघःकालिकानिलसङ्गुलः ।।6.22.22।।गङ्गासिन्दुप्रधाननाभिरापगाभिस्समावृतः ।देवतानांसरूपाभिर्नानारूपाभिरीश्वरः ।।6.22.23।।सागरस्समुपक्रम्यपूर्वमाम्नत्यरवीर्यवान् ।अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यंराघवंशरपाणिनम् ।।6.22.24।।
gaṅgāsindupradhānanābhir āpagābhis samāvṛtaḥ |
devatānāṁ sarūpābhir nānārūpābhir īśvaraḥ ||6.22.23||
Der Herr des Ozeans stand umgeben von Flüssen — voran Gaṅgā und Sindhu — und begleitet von himmlischen Wesen in vielerlei Gestalt, von denen manche den Göttern selbst glichen.
Clad in red coloured robes, endowed with lotus petal like eyes having a wonderful wreath of diverse flowers on head, decked in shining ornaments of polished gold encrusted with precious gems from his own territory, he resembled the Himalayan Mountain with minerals. He had a hanging pearl necklace in the centre of his bosom shedding white lustre that resembled the Kausthuba of Lord Vishnu. With several tides moving near, and multitude of tides reaching the clouds threatening, surrounded by Goddesses of several forms and deities of important rivers like Ganga and Sindhu, the valiant Lord of the ocean greeted with folded palms and spoke these words to Rama who was wielding an arrow in his hand.
FAQs
By portraying Sāgara as a regulated sovereign—surrounded by sacred rivers and divine attendants—it frames nature and kingship as parts of a moral cosmos where even powerful entities are bound to rightful conduct (dharma) and must respond appropriately to Rāma’s righteous purpose.
Satya appears as alignment with reality and rightful hierarchy: Sāgara is shown with his true cosmic status (īśvaraḥ) and proper retinue, preparing the ground for his truthful acknowledgment of Rāma’s authority and the necessity to act without deceit in the ensuing dialogue.